Sweden Enters Into an Agreement With Thailand on Gripen

(January 25, 2008) -- On Thursday 24 January, the Government authorised the Defence Materiel Administration to enter into an agreement with the air force in Thailand on the transfer of an integrated air surveillance system comprising JAS 39 Gripen and the Erieye radar surveillance system.

"It is very positive that Thailand has chosen Swedish Gripen now that it is renewing its air surveillance system. It will benefit Sweden and Swedish tax-payers. The Gripen system is very cost-efficient and I am pleased to see growing international interest in its acquisition," says Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors.

Thailand is to replace its present air surveillance system when parts of the country's current air fleet are phased out in 2011. The system's role will be to monitor Thailand's airspace and conduct incident preparedness.

The agreement covers six Gripen aircraft, the Erieye radar surveillance system and the accompanying data-link systems. The order amounts to some SEK 3.8 billion. Delivery is planned to take place in early 2011.